The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 31

Local Area News (j) Tuesday, August 31, 1976 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Whalen Raps Ruling On Police Exam Goodin's resignation assured that an exam for chief would have to be held, the Civil Service Commission ruled that an assistant chief must serve two years in rank before being eligible to take the chief's exam. This excluded Whalen, who was appointed assistant chief in May. Whalen feels the appropriate time for the Civil Service Commission to have made a change, if they were going to make one, was before not after the latest vacancy for police chief occurred. "Yet the city manager's office never acted on the basis of experience when they selected an acting chief (Myron J. Lelstler) last year.

"THE CRITERION then was By GEORGE HAHN Enquirer Reporter Assistant Police Chief Lawrence Whalen lashed out Monday at the Civil Service Commission and city officials for blocking him from taking the upcoming examination for Cincinnati police chief, scheduled for September 17-18. Whalen, an assistant chief less than four months, feels that, under pressure from city officials, the Civil Service Commission changed its eligibility standards specifically to bar him. "They (the Civil Service Commission) said they based their opinion that an assistant police chief should have two years' experience integrity and demonstrated capability and this junior man, the man with the least experience and seniority, was jumped over everybody," Whalen said. "This confuses me because neither Civil Service nor city administrators said that experience was the criterion then," he said. Saying he didn't think that cvil service would change its regulations for taking the chief's exam "without the input of city officials," Whalen accused both of being inconsistent.

"They are doing one thing and saying another," he pointed out, "and I became the victim. "I've got integrity. They put me in charge of the police district having the most trouble (District Four), left me In command when it merged with another district (District Seven) and put me in command of the Special Weapons and tactics unit (SWAT) at the same time. "My qualifications were laid out on the table and will match anyone's up here (among the assistant chiefs)." WHALEN HAS taken the first step in challenging the Civil Service Commission's ruling by hiring Donald Hardin, Fraternal Order of Police attorney, to represent him. He would not indicate whether Hardin will file a lawsuit to contest the ruling in court, saying that other options, such as whether all other avenues of appeal have been exhausted, are currently under study by Hardin.

Asked if there wouldn't be ill feeling against him if Hardin's actions delayed the choosing of a permanent police chief, Whalen indicated it wouldn't bother him. "I'm as interested as anyone in obtaining a permanent chief for the police division," he said. "But I didn't create the current situation, Civil Service did. Frank Vcikcl Jailed Juvenile's Money Disappears MONEY ISNT safe even in jail! A juvenile runaway from Detroit was picked up by Cincinnati police and taken to Juvenile Detention. He had $35 in his pocket, which was placed in an envelope for safe keeping.

When he was released from detention someone had "lifted" $20 from the envelope. Court employees have been asked to take a lie test A court official gave the runaway $20 out of his own pocket The investigation is continuing. FOLLOW UP: Sunday's column observed that I was going to Riverfront Coliseum to listen to "FAT FRANK" sing. Well, it was quite an enjoyable evening. Sinatra, is a 100 professional and I join the tans who hope he returns.

INCIDENTALLY, SUNDAY was quite a day for crowds in the Queen City. Tops was the amazing Cincinnati Reds with over 51,000 fans There were at the Coliseum for Sinatra and River Downs had another 7500 fans who wagered over $700,000. Cincinnati is one of the few cities in the nation that could turn 'em out like that. DICK PETERSON, one of Cincinnati's most talented amateur golfers, found a way to mix a family camping trip and his favorite outdoor activity Peterson, who is in Los Angeles this week for the United States Amateur Championship, wanted to spend some time with his wife, BONNIE, and the children before going to LA. He suggested a camping trip and the family quickly agreed.

The camp site was a little surprise. He drove to a wooded area, which is along the 15th fairway at Kenwood Country Club, and pitched his tent When the sprinklers went on In the morning the family packed the tent and left. That golf story will be hard to top! SPEAKING OF golf, the OHIO KINGS ISLAND OPEN is only two weeks away and sponsors report public interest is ahead of previous years. Since the last OKIO was held a complex of condominiums has been built along the golf course and owners are being besieged by friends for invitations during the tournament. The $150,000 PQA tour event has a super lineup of top professionals and proceeds from ticket sales go to the NEEDIEST KIDS OF ALL.

Buying a ticket to the event assures one of seeing a top-flight sports event and helping a worthwhile cause! -i "If they choose to hold me re- -sponsible for any delays, that's up to them. I've got big, broad shoulders. 1 I've taken heat before and I can take it again." At the age of only 39 couldn't Whalen afford to wait until the next chief retires in eight to 10 years and" then take the exam so as not to "rock the boat?" All other candi- dates are much older. WHALEN POINTED out that former police chiefs Goodln and Stanley Schrotel were both younger than he, when appointed chief and-that Schrotel was promoted to the post from the rank of captain. "But it's not a question of being able to afford to wait," he stressed.

"The question is why should the Civil Service Commission be able to change the rules to exclude someone after a vacancy occurs? "If they can change the rules to exclude an individual from compet-' ing who was previously eligible what can they do In other city de- partments? Who else can they exclude and Include? "I've checked, and since 1935 there has never been a chief's exam (in Cincinnati) without (political) maneuvering and gerrymandering involved." Police supervisors who agree with Whalen, and not all do, say that how the examination for police' chief is put together is irrelevent. Citing Goodln and the late Jake Schott as examples, some supervt- sors say that the man chosen as chief is usually the man that the politicians at City Hall and big bust- ness interests in Cincinnati want to -be chosen. The supervisors say that Whalen was groomed for advancement by Goodln, whom he served as an. administrative aide, but Is out in the cold now that his mentor has been ousted. they know the regular routines and how to best rob them." Yau said his "best guess" is the robbers drove to Cincinnati from a large city such as New York or Chicago, based upon the clothes they wore.

"Their clothes were tailor-made," he said. "The majority of Chinese are very slim built and it is very difficult for us to get clothes in smaller cities like this. "But their shirts were tapered to their bodies, and they probably had them tailor-made in a big city." Yau said a nearby gas station owner had earlier taken down the license plate number of a car carry- Ing three Chinese, after the driver paid for gasoline with a credit card bearing the name Griffin. "There is no way on earth a Chi-' nese guy (can) have the name Grif- fin," Yau noted. Made In Canada Although most Cinclnna-tlans were probably still thinking about the Reds-Phllltes series concluded Sun-day, Monday's cool, crisp weather was more conducive to thoughts of football.

The cool weather came In from Canada, according to the National Weather Service here, and should provide mild temperatures for the next two. days. p. Tongue Foo Chinese Restaurant Robbers9 Lingo Tips Origins To Manager Watching The Paperwork Neville, middle, watches City Prosecutor Anthony Sawyer, left, lawyer Rockel, right, at assignment commissioner's office, Alms Doepke Building; lawyer Rockel is on his left Hearing Set In Police Theft Cases on the opinion of unidentified people In city government," Whalen said. PRIOR TO 1970, civil service regulations required an assistant police chief to serve in that rank for two years before being eligible to take the exam for chief.

This was changed in 1970 to make any assistant police chief eligible to take the exam, with the stipulation' he had to serve six months at that rank in order to be promoted to chief. The change allowed Carl V. Goo-din, who had only been an assistant chief for nine months, to take the exam and be promoted to chief. Then, several weeks ago, after from a District Three "Pursuit of Criminals" fund. The second theft Involved the alleged taking of $1159 from Criminal Investigation Section headquarters between April 21-26, 1976.

Neville's attorney, John Rockel, moved for dismissal of the charges because his client was not a "public official," which the theft in office charge applies to, and because there was not sufficient information provided on the complaints to give a notary public "probable cause" to sign them. drawn vocal criticism from many parents who say they do not want to send their daughters there because they fear the neighborhood is unsafe. Others have countered the neighborhood is no more unsafe than the areas around other high schools. Railey said caucus members wish to point out "the underlying tenor of the discussion. "We resent being used as foils in this ploy which further polarizes the white and black communities especially since we had little to do with the decisions being handed down," he said.

"The black community, In this situation, is being bounced between the white parents and the study committee." The caucus position is that vocational education and athletics are the pivotal Issues. "THE ISSUE is not not race, not geography," but the best education, Railey said urging that the committee not "yield to the 'demons of race' that haunt those who fear Walnut Hills." The public meeting Monday was the third and final such meeting held to discuss the tentative merger. About 350 persons attended, many wearing the yellow "Keep Marian" tags handed out at the door. The school consolidation has been proposed because of declining enrollments and financial problems at the three schools. Purcell, 2935 Hackberry has a current enrollment of about 730 and is run by the Brothers of Mary.

Marian High School, 2121 Madison O'Bryonvllle, has an enrollment of about 400 and Is run by the Sisters of Charity. Reglna High School, 5400 Fenwick Norwood, has about 435 students and is owned and run by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The archdiocesan study committee will consider the opinions ex- -r -Enquirer (Gerry Woller) Photo Judge Ranz overruled both, citing law enforcement personnel are public officials under state statute, and that an affidavit need not accompany a complaint to warrant notarization. Following the arraignment, Neville said the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) will provide defense on only the administrative charges against him. They Involve three charges of violating Police Division regulations and the appeal of his May 12 firing.

Merger pressed by those attending the public meetings and meet September 9 to consider Its final recommendation to the Archdiocesan Commission on Education. A final decision may be made within a month. Blacks Dislike Pivotal Point In By BARBARA ZIGLI Enquirer Reporter The Black Catholic Caucus at a public meeting Monday night said that the black community resents being caught in the middle of a controversy surrounding the proposed merger of three Catholic high schools. The caucus is the official representative of the the Cincinnati Archdiocese's black Catholics. CAUCUS PRESIDENT Joseph Railey announced at a public meeting at Marian High School that the By DAN SEWELL Enquirer Reporter "Chinese know about Chinese." And to Gregory Yau, manager of the Magic Wok Restaurant, 8063 Montgomery Sycamore Township, that's why he thinks he was held up by three other Orientals Sunday night.

The bandits, who took $5000 and the office safe, "spoke Cantonese," said Yau. He said he didn't get a good look at their faces, but added, "My first Impression was they weren't in the country very long. "They have hardly spoken any English, I know, because they couldn't even say or words that anyone would know," he said. Yau said he was "not surprised" to be robbed by Chinese persons. "In fact," he added, "we were expecting It because The Fortune Kookle Restaurant (7633 Reading Rd.) got robbed last week." Wing Wong, manager of The Fortune Kookle, said robbers took a safe containing $2000 last Tuesday from his restaurant.

"I know it was somebody who knew about Chinese restaurant," said Wong. "My Idea is they hid in the basement until the store was closed and then took the safe." Yau explained, "In places like San Francisco and New York there are Chinese gangs that rob only Chinese establishments. "That's because Chinese know about Chinese. They know how the Chinese restaurant operates, and ments," Folkers said. "Then when you get the initial firm in, they act as a catalyst "We are having increased interest In the rest of Liberty-Dalton.

There are several other businesses we are talking to." The Phillips parcel is the southwestern part of the site, which is bounded by Western Avenue on the east, Findlay Street on the south, McClean Street on the west, and York Street on the north. THE TRANE will build on the parcel northeast of Phillips, and the unidentified company Is interested in the southeastern two acres, Folkers said. The Phillips Supply Co. currently Is at 123 W. McMlcken St.

Its new address will be 1230 Findlay which will be renamed "One Crosley Field Lane." The new facility will house the supply firm and its affiliated companies: Professional Maintenance (contract cleaning), Lien Chemical (washroom sanitation), Pest Arrest (pest extermination) and Maintenance Methods (management services for contract cleaning companies). It is to be completed in December. Approximately 500 people will be employed in the West End facility. "We want to emphasize businesses which have high employ Office-Warehouse Going Up Crosley Field 'Surgery' Begins Preliminary hearing on two charges of theft in office against former Cincinnati Police Captain Gary Neville has been set for September 15. Neville appeared Monday morning for arraignment in Hamilton County Criminal Court before Judge John Ranz.

The former policeman was released on his own recognizance. According to police records, Neville on "54 separate occasions" between July 30, 1974-April 28, 1976, "diverted for his own use" $793 caucus supports the conclusion of an archdiocesan study committee that Purcell High School in Walnut Hills Is the best location for a consolidated school formed by a merger of Purcell, Marian and Regina high schools. But, he said, the caucus disagrees with the committee's decision to rank ministry to the black urban community as the No. 1 priority. "We believe that the first consideration ought to be educational," Railey said.

The study committee's recommendation of Purcell as the site has property In the city at oot and lot sizes. Kanter later told The Enquirer he did not remember specifics of negotiations with council over the proposed zoning changes. The Kanter Corporation's policy "always has been to provide housing for anyone who wants to live in Forest Park the very rich and the very poor. Our policy will not change" no matter what zoning actions council takes, he said. Kanter said he opposed council's zoning amendment because it represented a "piecemeal" approach, rather than a "total housing strategy approach." IN OPPOSING the amendment Councilman Strachan warned council it was "alienating" the Kanter Corp.

by its action. Councilman Imhoff called the amendment a "blatant rebuff" of Kanter. Mayor Alfred J. Mangels said he believes Kanter's proposals to the city were made "in good faith." But Mangels added passage of the amendment was essential to the city's "economic balance." ment, and Phillips certainly meets that criterion," Folkers said. 1 Larger Lot Sizes OK'd By Forest Park Council By JIM HATTON Enqui.

Reporter Crosley Field Just won't be the same anymore. The nostalgic Cincinnati Reds West End playground undergoes major surgery at 10 a.m. today. The operation will end a six-year redevelopment drought in the area known as Liberty-Dalton. Officials from the city, Chamber of Commerce, Phillips Supply West End Redevelopment and the Reds will break ground together on what once was the ballpark of champions.

The ceremony will mark the start of construction of a $750,000 office-warehouse-distribution center for Phillips and its affiliated companies. It will be only the first of many projects to come. CONSTRUCTION OF a somewhat smaller facility for the Trane will begin this fall, and negotiations are In progress with another firm for the rest of the old baseball stadium site, according to Winston Folk-ers, city urban development director. And more action can be expected soon in the industrial redevelopment area just west of 1-75. "In any project the major, initial time is spent acquiring property, relocation (of residents and businesses), and making site improve "WITHOUT THE co-operation of the city's Department of Urban Development and the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, we probably would have relocated outside of' Cincinnati.

And that would have been a shame since we've been In the Queen City for 28 years, said company president Charles Phillips. The city still has a number of parcels to acquire in Liberty-Dalton, which Is bounded roughly by IJ 75 on the east, the Chessle System tracks on the west, the Western. Hills Viaduct on the north and Union Terminal on the south. This is one reason why there has been a dearth of development so far, Folkers said. 1 A second reason Is the more than $1 million worth of "site improve- ments" yet to be made.

These In -J elude running water and sewer lines; to the site, Improving access and extending Dal ton Street through what once was left field to Western Avenue. "Trane Is depending on that to get In," Folkers said. J' The project will begin this fall. The Cincinnati Reds foresook the hallowed ground of Crosley Field in 1970 for their plush new quarters on the riverfront. Planning to redevelop the area as an Industrie al park had begun years earlier.

-1 i By MARY JEAN CONNORS Enquirer Reporter FOREST PARK-Oppositlon from Joseph Kanter, the city's co-. founder and major land owner, failed to halt council's passage of an amendment to its zoning ordinance Monday night The amendment passed 4-2 with Councilmen Brian Strachan and Charles Imhoff opposed. Councilman Richard Metcalfe was absent from the meeting. PURPOSE OF the amendment was to provide for residential lot sizes larger than those now required. Forest Park's housing is unbalanced with an excess of smaller and thus less expensive lots, coun-cilmembers explained.

The amendment Monday changed lot sizes in zone R-l from 12,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet. It changed R-2 lot sizes from 7500 square feet to 12,000 square feet The amendments also created a new zone, R-3, for 7500 square foot lots. Councilmembers said Kanter proposed to develop a large block of.